You are here:

Media Statements

Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and FisheriesThe Honourable Mark Furner

Queensland Drought Appeal gets first major donor

Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries
The Honourable Mark Furner

Thursday, August 09, 2018

Queensland Drought Appeal gets first major donor

Just hours after Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk launched the Queensland Drought Appeal with a $100,000 donation, the campaign is already gaining serious momentum.

Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner said energy company Shell has contributed $100,000 to the Queensland Drought Appeal, a figure that could grow by a further $50,000 based on contributions from Shell employees.

“To have companies coming on board to support Queensland farmers so soon is wonderful,” Mr Furner said.

“This money will go to the Queensland Country Women’s Association to be spent on the ground in rural and regional Queensland communities.

“As I travel around the state and meet with farmers on a regular basis, I see the impacts that the drought is having on Queensland farmers.

“I encourage every to continue to dig deep for our regional communities as the Queensland Drought Appeal picks up steam during the Ekka and beyond.”

Shell vice president Tony Nunan said it was important for resource companies to lend a hand, as so many employees and their families lived in towns across the Surat Basin and regional areas surrounding Gladstone.

“Drought impacts regional communities beyond the farm gates, with local shops and small businesses suffering – an impact that flows across the community,” he said.

“With direct working relationships with more two thousand farmers in the Darling Downs, our employees have seen first-hand the impacts this drought is having on families and their livelihoods.

“We hope that our contribution can make a difference to families that are doing it tough.”